Tensioning device



R. H. BENSON ETAL April 2 6, 1966 TENS IONING DEVICE 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed 00T.. 24, 1963 April 26, 1966 R. H. BENSON ETAL 3,248,088

TENSIONING DEVICE Y Filed oct. 24, 196s 4 sheets-sheet s INVENTORS. 2055er M ffvsa/v BYSAMufL I4 /v//A/sKEv Je.

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April 26, 1966 R. H. BENSON ETAL TENS IONING DEVICE 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed Oct. 24, 1963 INVENTORS. Mier H. f/vsa/v JAM/a Il /l//A/fky, Je.

ATTORNEYS.

United States Patent() 3,248,088 TENsIoNING DEvICE Knoxville, Tenn., assignors to Mannis Winch and Steel Company, Knoxville, Tenn. Y

Filed Oct. 24, 1963, Ser. No. 318,614

8 Claims. (Cl. 254-172) v This invention relates to a tensioning device and has particular applicability to apparatus for retaining a cable under tension while being wound on or unwound from a drum, winch, or similar apparatus.

As conducive to a clearer understanding of this invention, it may here -be pointed out that in the use of Winches, drums, windlasses, and similar apparatus, tangling of the cable frequently occurs due to the cable becoming slack as it is paid off from the drum and piling up or squirrel caging, on the drum or spindle, and when the cable is being wound upon the drum, piling up rather than lat winding, causing a condition .much like squirrel caging, and allowing the load being handled to fall away from the drum -because of the slack, thus putting an unusual, sudden and dangerous strain upon the cable and its associated drum.

A primary object of this invention is the provision of a device for substantially precluding the occurrence of the above-mentioned conditions while both winding and unwinding the cable.

As the causes of these two conditions, that is, the failure of the cable to wind flat when being wound in, and the cable squirrel caging when being paid out, are different, it has hitherto been necessary to apply different apparatuses to overcome the two different conditions.

Applicants have devised a single mechanism so constructed as to provide in la single structure the functions of two mechanisms, utilizing, in some instances the same parts, whereby the single mechanism overcomes both of the above-mentioned disadvantageous conditions, thus effecting many economies in parts, time, and installation costs which would be involved in the use of separate mechanisms.

In accomplishing the above objects, the conditions are remedied by providing mechanisms which will keep the cable under tension at all'times between the tension sheave and the drum, and when the cable is being Wound by the provision of apparatus including a swinging arm with a ARobert H. Benson, Concord, and Samuel V. Minskey, Jr.,

ICC

FIGURE 6 is a sectional view, partially broken away,V

and partially in elevation, showing the drum element and the sprocket therefor.

FIGURE 7 is a sectional view taken substantially along the line 7-7 of FIGURE 4 as viewed in the direction indicated by the arrows.

FIGURE 8 is a sectional View taken `substantially along the line 88 of FIGURE 4 as viewed in the direction indicated by the arrows. l

FIGURE 9 is an enlarged transverse sectional view taken through either the braking or clutching mechanism, the two being substantially identical, but opposite, showing the internal construction thereof; and

FIGURE 10 is an enlarged fragmentary detail view through the mechanism as shown in FIGURE -9 disclosing constructional details.

Similar reference characters refer to similar parts throughout the several views of the drawings.

Having reference now to the drawings, the device of the instant invention is generally indicated at 20, and cornprises a 'frame which is formed witha bottom front inwardly facing relatively heavy channel bar 21, which is mounted on 'a base plate 22 between opposite vertical side plates 23 and 24. An intermediate heavy duty channel beam 25 extends transversely between the plates 23 sheave at its end to feed the cable onto the drum evenly and in flat woundcondition.

A further object of the invention is the provision of a relatively simple and inexpensive apparatus of this character which may be readily employed with any conventional type of winch, windlass, winding drum or the like, which is sturdy and durable in construction, reliable and eticient in operation, and relatively simple and inexpensive to manufacture, assemble, and utilize.

Still other objects reside in the combinations of 4elements, arrangements of parts, and features of construction, all as will be more fully pointed out hereinafter and disclosed in the accompanying drawings wherein there is shown a preferred embodiment of this inventive concept:

In the drawings:

FIGURE l is a front elevational view of one form of device embodying the instant inventive concept.

FIGURE 2 is a vertical cross-sectional view taken substantially along the line 2-2 of FIGURE 1 as viewed in the direction indicated by the arrows.

p and 21, respectively.

and 24 at an intermediate point, and an upper front transverse channel plate 26 extends between the side plates adjacent the top. A rear top channel bar 27 is also provided adjacent the top of the device, .has its inwardly turned flanges confronting those of channelmember 26, as best shown in FIGURE 2.

The suitable supporting plate 28 carried by legs 29 is positioned interiorly of the side plate 23 adjacent one end thereof and has bolted thereto as by means of bolt plates 30 'a transmission mechanism 31, which may be powered -as by means of a suitable drive shaft 32a from any desired power source exterior of the apparatus. Journalled in the transmission housing 31 is one end of a drum shaft 32, the other end of which is mounted in the brushing 33 carried by a standard 34 mounted exteriorly of the .side plate 24. As shown in FIGURE 6, suitable lubricating fitting 35 may be provided for the bearing 33 and suitableV of keys 41 and 42 to the shaft 32. The flange 38 has fixed thereto a drive sprocket 42, for a purpose to be more fully described hereinafter.

Mounted on the front of the apparatus is a fair lead sheave 45 which is mounted on an axle 46 carried between a pair of plates 47 and 48. The plates 47 and 48 are v connected to a tubular shaft 47h milled to receive and guide cable to sheave 45. This tube is firmly fixed to and made a part of plates 47 and 48 rotatably mounted in bearings 51 and 52 carried by mounting brackets 53 and 54 secured to the forward faces of channel members 25 A cable 55 to be wound or unwound passes interiorly of the sheave 45, and upwardly through the upper bearing 49, and 'a tube 47a which is attached to frame member channel 25 between bearing 51 and sheave 56, its function being to guide the cable 55 from sleave 56 into hollow tube 4711 and sheave 45.

The sheave 56 is rmly attached to a shaft 60 which is mounted in a pair of bearing assemblies 61 carried by bearing bracket 62 on opposite sides Vof sheave 56, the bearing bracket 62 being supported on an angularly disposed ight 63 which extends inwardly from the uppermost portion of channel member to an intermediate point on channel member 26. Shaft extends substantially across the front of the device, as best shown in FIGURES l and 4, and terminates in a reduced portion 65,'the outer end of which is journalled in a bearing assembly 66 which in turn is carried by a bearing supporting bracket 67 which is carried in turn by a supporting frame member 68 bolted as by bolts 69 to the outer side of side plate 24.

The reduced end of shaft 60 carries an override clutch assembly generally indicated at 70 which includes a clutch housing 71 including 'a sleeve 7,2, the end of which bears against a thrust bearing 73 and which contains the liner 74 surrounding reduced end 65.'.V The clutch housing 71 carries about its external periphery a sprocket 75 which is engaged -by a chain 76 which extends around sprocket 42 carried by drum flange 38. The opposite side of the housing comprises a plate "77 including a sleeve 78 having a liner 79 through which the reduced end of the shaft 60 extends, the plate being biased inwardly toward an override clutch assembly 79a carried within the housing 71 by means of springs 80 which be-ar against the plate 77. The opposite ends'of the springs-80 are contained in sleeves 81 which in turn are mounted on a pressure plate 82 which is provided with a sleeve S3 containing an internal ,bronze bushing 84 through which the reduced end 65 passes. The sleeve is in turn engaged by a thrust bearing 85 and the pressure of the springs is controlled by a nut 86 mounted on a threaded extremity S7 of reduced end 65.

The override clutch member 79a includes a central `disc-like member 92 keyed as by means of a key 91 to shaft portion 65 and provided with a series of peripheral recesses which taper at one end towards a surrounding annular sleeve 94. Each recess'93 contains a roller bearing 95 which is biased toward the shallow end of the recess by means of a pin 96 contained in a bore 97 extending transversely to the deep end of the recess and biased forwardly by means of a spring 98. The sleeve 94 is provided with side plates 99, which bear against transverse liners 100 and 101, which in turn are fixed to the side of casing 71 and plate 77 respectively. The arrangement of the pins and the taper of the recesses isV such that the override clutch assembly herein described acts as a brake when the cable is being wheeled out, and when the cable is being wheeled in, is inactivated due to the reverse direction of rotation of the sleeve 84 occasioned by the rotation of shaft 60.

The opposite end of shaft 60 is provided with a reduced end portion 105, which is surrounded by an override clutch assembly generally indicated at 106, which includes a disc 107 identical with the disc 92 and containing pins 108 which engage bearings 109 containing recesses identical to the recesses 93 but oppositely disposed relative thereto so that the brake or override clutch assembly 106 acts when the shaft is rotated in the opposite direction, or when the cable is being reeled in. Pins 11? biased by springs 111 engage bearings 109 and urge them against the periphery of a sleeve 112 which in turn is positioned between side plates 113, which carry liners 114 and 115,Y respectively. The liner 114 is adapted to engage the inner face of a side plate 116 which cornprises part of a brake housing 117, the opposite end of which is closed by a plate 119.

The plate 119 is apertured to receive an adjusting screw 120, the inner end of which seats in a boss 121 carried by a pressure yoke 123', the inner face of which carries a plate 124 which bears against liner 115. Obviously, adjustment of pressure screw will vary the pressure exerted by the plate 124 against the clutch assembly, thus permitting adjustment of the tension to which the device reacts.

A bolt 125 extending through a washer 126 into a threaded bore in the reduced end :105 of shaft 60 serves posite ends with a pair of at bars 132. The bars 132 are in turn pivotally mounted on a -bolt 133 which is mounted within a sleeve 134 carried between the opposite side plates 135 of a pressure arm assembly generally indicated at 136 which includes a top plate 137 having an opening 137:1 therein through which cable 55 passes v from sheave 56. The top plate 137 is connected to a cross angle iron 138 which is mounted on bolts 139 at its opposite ends carried by brackets 140 which in turn are carried by channel member 26. The horizontal ange of the angle iron 13S is biased downwardly by means of compression springs 141, which serve to impart pressure to the sheaves 130 and hold the cable 55 tightly against sheave 56 in order that cable 55 will not slip in the sheave `56. Y

After passing upwardly through opening 137a -cable 55 passes over a top sheave 150 which is carried by an axle 151 mounted between a pair of plates 152 mounted on ythe top of a plate 152a which extends transversely across the upper flanges of channel members 26 and 27.

The cable 55 passes from the sheave 150 `downwardly between a pair of laterally disposed 'hold back sheaves 153:1 to a lower guide pulley 154 which is mounted on' an axle 155 carried between the lower extremities of the sag plates 15,6 of a pendulum fixed assembly gener` ally indicated at 157 and to be more fully described hereinafter.l The pendulum assembly 157 includes a heavy duty axle 158, the ends of which are journalled in bearings 159 and 160 which are bolted as by means of bolts 161 and 162, respectively, to the inner sides of channel members 26 and 27. The axle .158 extends through an opening in channel member 27 and carries on its outer extremity a brake drum 163, which is engaged by a semicircular brake band 164, the extremities of which extend upwardly and are connected to studs 165 which extend through openings in plates `166 which are secured as by welding or the like to the top flange of channel member 27. The threaded upper extremities 167 of studs 165 are provided with springs 168e: and adjusting nuts 168 by means of which the tension of the brake band 164 Vmay be varied.

The hold back sleeves l151311 are mounted on axles -170 t 'and 17'1, respectively, which are mounted between a pair of plates i172 and 173 comprising portions of a plate asf sembly generally'indicated at 174 which includes late-rally extending opposite anges i175 which are slotted as at 176 to accommodate bolts 177 threaded in suitable apertures in the face of channel member 27, the arrangement being such that the control sheaves may be vertically adjusted to effectively bring in balance the side forces exerted lagainst the swing of the pendulum. From pulley 154 the cable is wound on or unwound from drum 36, as best shown in FIGURE `2.

From the fore-going the use and operation should now be readily understandable. Assuming that a cable is Wound on drum 36 and that it is desired to pay out or withdraw the same, the override clutch assembly 70 serves to keep the cable taut. It is pointed out that the clutch housing 71 is supported entirely on the shaft extension 65,

While the inner core or disc 92 is keyed to the shaft 65.

As the cable is let out the revolution of drum 36 through sprocket 42 and chain 76, rotates sprocket 75 and its associated clutch housing 7.1, 'which in turn tendsk to rotate t the sheave S6 faster than the `cable can leave the drum and with enough force exerted by the clutch friction upon the shaft to cause its rotation and the rotation of sheaveI 56 with enough force to keep the cable tau-t between the sheave 56 and the drum 36. The clutch operates on the well-known principle and mechanism employed in free wheeling as applied -to automobile drives and bicycle brakes.

When the cable is being'reeled-in, however, the clutch assembly .106 being supported on a yfixed base, the friction between the cable 'and the sheave 56 rotate shaft 60 and sets up a -frictional drag by rotating a member |107 which is keyed to the shaft 60, which in turn through the frictional lresistance between the rotor and the clutch cylinder revolves the clutch cylinder. The movement of the cylinder and clutch sleeve 106 is braked by the pressure of friction discs 114 and 11i15, the resistance of which is governed by pressure plate i124 which is in turn controlled by a screw 122. It will lbe understood that in each instance the opposite clutch is f-ree wheeling or inactive during the reverse movement of the cable drum 36.

The eect of the pendulum arm assembly l157 and the sheaves 153:1 is to feed the cable S5 upon the drum 56 from the sheave 1154 Ithus allowing the cable to 'be presented to the drum spindle from a position at right angles to the axis ofjthe spindle at the point where the cable is coming in contact with the spindle or the cable coiled upon it. Thus, because of the tension maintained in the position from which the pendulum feeds Ithe cable to the drum, there is little tendency of the cable to deviate from a at pattern and if the mechanism is properly adjusted and the cables are clean and in good condition, a satisfactory flat rwind will be achieved.

Since the cable is Ireeled on or olf of the drum 66 Iwhile held under tension and in a taut condition at all times, the diameter of the surface on which the cable is being wound is always smaller than the diameter of the surface on which the cable has lbeen Wound.. Hence, lthe cable being wound under tension will naturally. follow the smaller diameter and not the larger diameter of the windingl drum 36. As the winding drum lrevolves the cable 55 winding against itself moves the pendulum assembly 157 pivotally as indicated by -the dotted lines in *FIGURE 3. The brake 163, 164 functions to steady the movement of the pendulum, this action tending to give an even and smooth wind to the cable. 153g are set, by means of Athe slots 1'76 in a position relative to the length and diameter of the winding drum and the length of the pendulum arm, as will be described hereinafter. The path of travel of .the pendulum must also be limited in relation Kto the size and capacity of the winding mechanism.

The determination of the length of the pendulum and the proper positioning of the control sheaves may be effected in the following manner: After the winding drum 36 has -been properly set in horizontal position, determine -the largest diameter of thev drum barrel when the desired amount of cable is spooled on the drum. A line is then` drawn on each side or end of the drum on the inside of the lflanges and on the lower side of the drum at the largest diameter. A line drawn from the lower end of the aforementioned line at 30 degrees will intersect the center line of the drum at the point of location of the pendulum hinged pin center or the center of pin 158. The length of the pendulum is determined as being from t-he center of the hinged pin to the point where the `cable leaves the sheave toward the drum, that is, the sheave 154.

In determining the distance -to locate the control sheaves 153:1 below the pivotal point S158 of the pendulum hinge, it is desirable to position the control sheaves by trial.

'For there is a point where if the sheaves are located below 1158 the forces of the cable on the pendulum will be laterally balanced in operation and the cable being fed to the drum will feed practically at right angles to t-he drum spindle which is necessary to achieve a -flat and close-winding on the winch spindle. As the winding process proceeds, the cable, being in tension, does not over- The control sheaves 2153 and ride the wound cable, but is forced along lby the pressure of the Wound cable causing the cable, fed from the pendulum -guide sheave, to move the pendulum in winding direction until the cable reaches the spindle flange, where the cable rides the wound cable and reverses its lateral movement.

-From the foregoing it will now be seen that there is herein provided an improved apparatus which accomplishes all the objects of this invention, and others, including many advantages of great practical utility and commercial importance.

As many embodiments may be made of this inventive concept, and as many modifications may be made in the embodiment hereinbefore shown and described, it is to be understood t-hat all matter herein is to be interpreted.

merely as illustrative, and not in a limiting sense.

We claim:

1. In a device of the character described, in combination, Ia frame including a front and rear, a drum mounted transversely in said frame, means for rotating said drum, a fair lead sheave pivotally mounted -for horizontal movement on the front of said frame, a tension shaft extending transversely across said frame above said drum, a main tension sheave on said shaft, a -guide sheave on the -top of said frame adjacent the rear thereof, a pendulum assembly mounted beneath said guide sheave, said assembly including a depending movable sheave at the free end thereof adjacent said drum, a cable extending from said fair lead sheave over said tension sheave, guide sheave and movable sheave to said drum, a pair of oppositely disposed overriding clutch members on said tension shaft, a clutch housing for each of said clutch members, one of said clutch housings being ixedly mounted relative to said shaft and the other being rotatably carried by said shaft, a sprocket on said other clutch members, a second sprocket of greater diameter on said drum, and a chain connection between said sprockets.

2. The structure of claim 1 wherein said pendulum assembly comprises -a pivot axle mounted in said frame 'above and transverse to said drum, a pair of side plates depending from said pin, said sheave being mounted between the extremities of said plates.

3. The structure of claim@ wherein said axle is provided with a brake drum and an adjustable brake band carried by said frame extends about said drum..

4. The structure of claim 3 wherein control sheaves are positioned below said guide sheave on opposite sides of said cable.

5. The structure of claim 4 wherein means are provided by varying the position of said control sheaves relative to the center line of said pendulum axle.

l6. The structure of claim 1 wherein auxiliary pressure sheaves are located in alignment with said main tension s-heave, and spring means are provided `for biasing said auxiliary pressure sheaves toward said main tension sheave.

7. The structure of claim 6 wherein means are provided for adjusting the tension of said spring means.

S. The structure of claim 1 wherein means are provided for varying the pressure extended by said overriding clutch members.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,042,481 6/'1936 Patterson l254-71'72 2,303,847 12/1942 Lamond 254172 SAiMU'EL IF. COLEMAN, Primary Examiner.

H. C. HORNSBY, Assistant Examiner. 

1. IN A DEVICE OF THE CHARACTER DESCRIBED, IN COMBINATION, A FRAME INCLUDING A FRONT AND REAR, A DRUM MOUNTED TRANSVERSELY IN SAID FRAME, MEANS FOR ROTATING SAID DRUM, A FAIR LEAD SHEAVE PIVOTALLY MOUNTED FOR HORIZONTAL MOVEMENT ON THE FRONT OF SAID FRAME, A TENSION SHAFT EXTENDING TRANSVERSELY ACROSS SAID FRAME ABOVE SAID DRUM, A MAIN TENSION SHEAVE ON SAID SHAFT, A GUIDE SHEAVE ON THE TOP OF SAID FRAME ADJACENT THE REAR THEREOF, A PENDULUM ASSEMBLY MOUNTED BENEATH SAID GUIDE SHEAVE, SAID ASSEMBLY INCLUDING A DEPENDING MOVABLE SHEAVE AT THE FREE END THEREOF ADJACENT SAID DRUM, A CABLE EXTENDING FROM SAID FAIR LEAD SHEAVE OVER SAID TENSION SHEAVE, GUIDE SHEAVE AND MOVABLE SHEAVE TO SAID DRUM, A PAIR OF OPPOSITELY DISPOSED OVERRIDING CLUTCH MEMBERS ON SAID TENSION SHAFT, A CLUTCH HOUSING FOR EACH OF SAID CLUTCH MEMBERS, ONE OF SAID CLUTCH HOUSINGS BEING FIXEDLY MOUNTED RELATIVE TO SAID SHAFT AND THE OTHER BEING ROTATABLY CARRIED BY SAID SHAFT, A SPROCKET ON SAID OTHER CLUTCH MEMBERS, A SECOND SPROCKET OF GREATER DIAMETER ON SAID DRUM, AND A CHAIN CONNECTION BETWEEN SAID SPROCKETS. 